In an order filed March 4, the Minnesota Court of appeals upheld Downwind's conviction for first-degree burglary of a Montevideo home on the night of July 27-28, 2010. Downwind was convicted of the crime in November, 2010.

Downwind was convicted of stealing two laptop computers, a wallet and $700 in cash, other electronic devices and DVDs, along with a photo he took of the burglary victim and his spouse while they were sleeping.

The Montevideo Police Depart­ment recovered the stolen items at a residence in Montevideo where Downwind was staying.

Downwind was a suspect in 19 other home burglaries and break-ins to parked vehicles in Montevideo over a 2 1/2-month span.

The Montevideo Police Department was unable to make an arrest at that time because Downwind left Montevideo and was living on the Red Lake reservation.

Downwind's mother testified that her son had spent the summer of 2010 on the reservation and was not in Montevideo when the burglaries occured.

However, another witness testified that he had received stolen goods from Downwind.

In his appeal, Downwind argued that he had not committed the burglary and had "merely took possession of some of the stolen items after the burglary.

District Judge Randall Slieter rejected Downwind's mother's testimony as not credible and found Downwind guilty based on the materials recovered at the Montevideo residence and the testimony of the witness who received the stolen goods.

According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, Downwind's expected release date from prison is June 12, 2014.